Advances in technology have given us a never-ending stream of innovation in computing and music devices. This is a wonderful age where progress is a constant. But it’s also a curse. It is easy to focus on the progress to the detriment of everything else.

Take, for example, gear- and feature-lust; the desire to be part of the next big thing. The argument is simple: “why should I do something now when something better will come along?” or “If something new makes me 300% more efficient, it’s in my best interest to wait until that thing comes along.”

This behavior is not exclusive to technological innovation. Have you ever heard the following?: “I’m halfway done, but if I start over completely, I know the end product will be better for it.”

Taken without context, the above quotes are rational. But if you hear them often — especially from your inner monologue, be careful. You may be focusing on the process instead of the end result. (A process which, by the way, will never end.)

This is not an indictment of precision, or of quality. It’s a warning for those who favor quality over results. The greatest process in the world (like the greatest idea in the world) is nothing without implementation. And implementation requires you to pick a moment and STOP, so you can go from thinking to working.

I’ll come down off my philosophical high horse for one example: instrumentation. Whether your weapon of choice is a turntable, a saxaphone, a controller or a paintbrush, it will not become your instrument until you stop, sit down with what you have, and practice. If you’re focusing on developing your craft, time spent drooling over the “next” and the “best” is time wasted.

Again, not an indictment of progress (or of awesome gear) here. Just a warning: you’ll never get good at it unless you stop to appreciate it. If you’re constantly looking over the horizon, you WILL find something to pique your interest. That’s the age we live in.

You must stop before you can move forward.

(Yet another sappy self-help message brought to you by 60 Works.)

“I Have a Day Job.”
At first, this was a perceived liability. It is becoming a hidden strength.

A Day Job means I’m not desperate for your business.
A Day Job means I’m not a super-rich dude “playing” at running a company.
A Day Job means that somewhere out there, someone else trusts me to do their work for them…

The following is a brief guide for anyone considering a new controller, be it custom or commercial.

Usage:
In the broadest strokes… how will it be used? As a DJ tool? As a live performance tool? Is it a Studio aid? In many cases, the controller will tell you this with its design. But sometimes you have to be the one to make this decision…

In an attempt at transparency, I’m going to be brutally honest about some of my marketing techniques. Below I’ll share regarding my attempts to manipulate you into paying attention to 60 Works. Up to and including the conniving technique of being brutally honest about my techniques… to attract even more attention…

(This lengthy article skews more towards the philosophical than the technical.)

If this were a custom Guitar or Bass shop, an article on showmanship would be unnecessary. Traditional instruments are hundreds of years old, and concepts of showmanship & virtuosity have been ingrained in the popular culture.

But 60 Works makes controllers, and a controller can do much more than play notes and chords. It is this limitless possibility that attracts people to use them in performance. This flexibility has drawbacks. One drawback addressed here is the lack of standardization…